When Spurs picked up Croatian midfielder Luka Modric for £15.8 million in 2008 from Dinamo Zagreb, he was a little known quantity despite the hefty price tag. However, he went on to become the club's star player, making 127 league appearances for the club, scoring 13 league goals, and playing a starring role in the team that qualified for, and excelled, in the 2010-11 Champions League. He also played 34 other competitive games and scored an additional four goals in those matches. The creative wizard won Tottenhams Club Player of the Year in 201011 and began attracting the attention of some of Europes biggest clubs. At the end of the 2011-12 season he announced his intention to leave and effectively forced his way out of the club and Real Madrid acquired his services for a then outbound Spurs transfer record of £30 million, in a deal which also saw the two clubs announce a commercial partnership, in August of 2012. While he is undoubtedly one of the best players Spurs have had, full stop, in the Premier League era, he unfortunately soured his relationship with their fans somewhat.
